Santa Clara County
Biographies
JAMES CLARE PATISON
In the vicinity of Gilroy, Santa Clara county, J. C. Patison is located on a small ranch given over entirely to the cultivation of orchard fruits. He is a native of Australia, where he was born November 19, 1858, the second in a family of three children, all of whom are now living. His father, Henry Patison, was born in London, England, and when a young man located in Australia, where he engaged in the sheep industry. In 1861 he brought his family to San Francisco and settled in the eastern part of Stanislaus county, near Oakdale, where he entered land and engaged in the sheep business until 1877. He then turned his attention to general farming, devoting his ranch of three hundred and twenty acres entirely to agricultural purposes. His death occurred in Oakdale. His wife, formerly Emma Clare, was a native of Tasmania, Van Dieman's land, and a daughter of James Clare, a sea captain, who with his brothers owned three ships. They located in Australia eventually, Captain Clare meeting the fate of the great majority of sailors by losing his life at sea. Mrs. Patison died in Monterey county.
The boyhood of J. C. Patison was spent principally in San Francisco and Stanislaus county, receiving his education in the schools of the former until 1870, after which he attended the district schools. He learned the trade of tinsmith, but engaged with his father in farming until 1884, in which year he removed to Fresno, Cal., and followed his trade, having been previously engaged for a short time in that occupation in San Francisco. For the following eight years he engaged at his trade when he came to his present location near Gilroy, Santa Clara county, and entered upon general farming. He now has an orchard of several acres of valuable land, to the cultivation of which he gives his entire attention.
The marriage of Mr. Patison occurred in Gilroy and united him with Susie Thomas, a native of the place and daughter of Hon. Thomas Reynolds Thomas. The latter was born in Lewis county, Mo., December 8, 1841, and when twelve years old crossed the plains with his father, Massey Thomas, who settled in Gilroy township, Santa Clara county. Massey Thomas was born in Ohio county, Ky., in 1813, and became an early settler of Missouri. His first trip to California was made in 1849, when he engaged in mining, and in December of the following year he returned to his eastern home and remained until 1853. April 18 of that year he started for the west again, bringing with him his family and locating them as before stated, where he engaged in farming. Thomas R. Thomas in 1854 bought a farm south of the city limits of Gilroy and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He also took a prominent part in public affairs, and in 1869 was elected to the state legislature. Later in life he became interested in insurance and grain business in Gilroy and continued successful in his new undertaking. He was married three times, his first wife being in maidenhood Melcena Haun, the second was Ettie Young, and the third was Susie Owen. To Mr. and Mrs. Patison were born three children, namely: Zetta, Ouida and Ethel. In fraternal relations Mr. Patison was made a Mason in Gilroy and is now a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. He affiliates as well with the Red Men and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. Politically he adheres to the principles advocated in the platform of the Democratic party.
Transcribed
2-20-16 Marilyn
R. Pankey.
ญญญญSource:
History of the State of California &
Biographical Record of Coast Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A.
M., Page 1001. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2016 Marilyn R. Pankey.